Bitter end to the season for ski world champion Alexander Schmid: The Allgäuer, who won the gold medal in the parallel race at the World Championships in France in February, underwent surgery in Munich on Wednesday after a cruciate ligament rupture. The 28-year-old, the first German World Champion in 34 years, is unlikely to miss the season opener.

Schmid suffered the rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during giant slalom training on Wednesday morning in Berchtesgaden. "The injury and the associated absence are extremely annoying, especially after the successful World Cup," said Schmid, but stressed: "Now it is important to look forward. I will work hard and concentrated to be fit again as soon as possible."

DSV team doctor Manuel Köhne considers a forced break of half a year to be realistic. "The operation was positive and without complications," he said after the procedure, "provided a favorable healing process, snow training is possible again in about six months." The new World Cup season will probably start at the end of October, beginning of November.

In arthroscopy, the torn ligament was replaced by the body's own quadriceps tendon. "Alex is expected to receive inpatient physiotherapy treatment for a few more days before he can begin initial rehabilitation measures," said Köhne.

Schmid won't miss many races this season. At the weekend there will be a giant slalom and a slalom in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia, and a week later the final of the World Cup in Soldeu/Andorra.